Minors Make Final

Saturday 20.06.2026

Uncategorised

Tyrone 1-15 1-12 Kildare

Reigning All Ireland champions Tyrone have reached this year’s Minor championship decider following an exciting victory over a useful Kildare. Just weeks after the respective counties had met at a similar stage at under 20s, the Ulster and Leinster champions went head to head at Breffni Park, and once again Tyrone emerged victorious, following a commanding final quarter.

Matthew F Daly got Tyrone off to a perfect start. Charlie Meenan who was excellent throughout won the throw in and the Eglish attacker split the posts with a superb effort to raise an orange flag, in the opening minute.  Eoghan Lyons and Logan O’Connor swapped points before Kildare claimed the opening goal of the match, in the 8th minute. Jack Doran surged through the heart of the Tyrone defence before he passed to Jack Reilly, James Maguire made an outstanding block but Reilly tapped home the rebound. Tobin extended the lead.

Tyrone were back in front in the 14th minute, Meenan forced the turnover. He passed several times with Matthew F Daly before centering to Conan Canavan to drill past the keeper and defenders on the line.

Daly doubled the lead but Kildare began to seize control around the middle and despite the best efforts of Aidan Farley who had replaced injured captain Ciaran McCrystal, James Maguire and Matthew J Daly, the Leinster side regained the lead with the twin scoring threat of Jack Reilly and Greg Kelly sharing the next four scores to push them two clear. Logan Tennyson shot was well saved by O’Neill as Tyrone had to weather the storm.

The Red Hands bounced back into the game as Brian Og McGuckin opened his account and then swung over a two pointer from play to put Tyrone in front, Reilly levelled from a ridiculous angle before Daly had the final say of the half to give Tyrone a slender advantage at the interval. 1-8 1-7.

Matthew F Daly got a point for Tyrone in the 35th minute but Reilly continued to be a thorn in the Tyrone side. He swapped points with Brian Og before kicking a two pointer and raised a further white flag as his brought his tally to 1-7 and put Kildare back in front.

Tyrone had been wasteful in the third quarter but Aodhan Corry levelled before the heavens opened and the majority of the final quarter was played in torrential rain.

Mescal nearly deceived everyone with a pass which drifted narrowly wide and Aidan Farley made a timely interception. Tyrone crucially maintained their composure and scores from both Dalys put two in it with six to go. Again Farley was called upon to deflect Tennyson’s shot over. A seventh point from Matthew F Daly with his fist and a point from the recently introduced Finnbar Quinn and despite kicking eight second half wides Tyrone led by three.

The drama wasn’t quite over and with additional time almost up Kildare launched two Hall Marys into the square but with Tyrone bodies diving everywhere they kept the ball out to deservedly reach the All Ireland final.

Tyrone will face Cork or Derry who play in Parnell Park.